Cushioning device for violins



Oct. 20, 1936. s. HARDY CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR VIOLIN Filed Feb. 18, 1935Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to cushioning means for violins and likeinstruments, and it has as its primary object to provide such a devicewhich readily may be removably attached to violins and which, when soattached, will not be accidentally displaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning device whichwill effectively obviate the discomfort frequently produced by pressureof the violin on the collar-bone of the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning device, asabove described, which is of relatively small size and which, therefore,

0 when removed from the violin, may be placed within the carrying caseof the instrument.

These objects have been attained by the provision of a cushioning deviceadapted to be attached to and secured upon the support for the chin-restwith which violins are commonly equipped.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred form of my improved cushioningdevice, showing it attached to the clamping means of one well known formof chin-rest, secured upon a violin.

Fig. 2 is a left end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, detached from the chin-rest.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device, with the padding omitted.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of theinvention attached to another conventional form of chin-rest.

Fig. 6 is a left end view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and6.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view (on a reduced scale) of a modified form ofbase member upon which the padding is to be secured.

Fig. 9 is a plan view (on a reduced scale) partly in section, of thebase member, shown in Fig. 8.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, and first to Figs. 1 to 4,inclusive, my invention is shown as comprising a cushioning member, orpad, designated generally as C adapted to relieve the pressure of theviolin on the collar-bone of the player. This member consists of asupporting base I of any suitable material, such for example as hardwood, and a covering 2 of felt, plush or other material. A suitablepadding material is inserted between the bottom surface of the base andthe covering 2 to make the underside of the member relatively soft. Itis to be noted that only the rearmost edge of the pad engages theviolin, the major portion being spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1, sothat it does not interfere with the natural vibrations of the violin.

Fitted within a substantially V-shaped channel 3 in the underside of thebase I, and held therein by thin metal plates 4 and 5, is a springmember 6 having horizontally disposed spring legs "I and 8, terminatingin upstanding portions 1 8*. The portions 1* and 8 are provided,respectively, with shoes 9 and I0 adapted to engage portions of theclamping and supporting means of a chin-rest R, as later will bedescribed. The chin-rest is secured upon the violin V, which isillustrated in dotted lines, by means of a clamp device comprising twodownwardly depending right hand threaded rods a and b and a memberhaving a cross-bar 0 provided with a covering strip d engaging the backof the violin, and upstanding left hand threaded rods 6 and complementalto the rods w and b. Turnbuckles y and 'h are threaded upon the rods aand e, and b and respectively, and serve to draw them together, therebyto clamp the chin-rest upon the violin.

, As previously indicated, the legs 1 and 8 of the member 5 are springpressed outwardly and normally assume the dotted line positions shown inFigs. 3 and 4. To secure the cushion device to the chin-rest it isnecessary merely to press the legs I and 8 inwardly, pace the shoes 9and I0 between the turnbuckles g and h and then release the legs. Thetension of the member 6 causes the shoes forcibly to engage theturnbuckles and the cushion member is securely held thereon. Obviouslythe cushion device subsequently may be removed by compressing the legs 1and 8 to cause the shoes 9 and 10 to release their grip on theturnbuckles.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a modified form of the invention securedupon another conventional type of chin-rest in which the clamping of thechin-rest to a violin is effected by a turnbuckle g and h acting onthreaded rods a and b as above described but in which the lower clampcomprises buttons 2 and a, secured upon threaded rods and l, and havingoff-set head portions 70 and Z which engage the back of the violin, asshown most clearly in Fig. 5. In this form the base member I l of thecushion member or pad D, and the pad l2 carried by the base are cut awayas indicated at at to afford clearance for the collar bone of theplayer. As will be seen in Fig. 6, this pad D is substantially longerthan the pad C of Fig. 1 and it extends downwardly from the back of theviolin at a materially greater angle i. e. in the neighborhood of thirtydegrees. This causes the pad to rest upon the chest muscles of theplayer rather than on his collar-bone, the cut out portion affordingclearance for his collar-bone, as above stated.

This modified form has a spring member l3, which corresponds generallyto the member 6 of Fig. 3, and the spring legs I4 and I5 thereof (whichare located in a channel IS in the base member ll) carry shoes I! and I8adapted to engage the turnbuckles g and h to secure the cushioningmember to the chin-rest. The legs l4 and I5 are formed with oil-setportions M and I5, respectively, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, toavoid interference with the clamp buttons k and 1*.

As hereinbefore stated, the base member which supports the cushioningpad may be of any suitable material. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate suchmember as made of mouldable material, such for ex ample as hard rubber,aluminum or Bakelite which is a phenolic condensation product. In thisform, the cavity m for the clamping spring member 20 (corresponding tospring members 6 and I3) is molded between the upper and lower walls ofthe base plate. To assemble, the spring member is merely inserted in thecavity m and a screw or rivet 2| is placed through the walls of the baseplate and through the loop of the member 20, as shown in Fig. 9 toprevent withdrawal of the spring member.

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that I have provided severalforms of cushioning devices each of which readily may be attached to aviolin and which, when so attached, will effectively protect the useragainst pressure of the violin against his collar-bone and will therebyobviate the discomfort which heretofore has been produced by thatpressure.

It is to be understood that the present device is adaptable to musicalinstruments other than violins, such for example as violas, and that,therefore, the term violin as used herein is intended to be interpretedto mean all musical instruments of that general nature. Likewise thedevice is capable of being attached to various conventional forms ofchin-rests which have clamping means to secure them to the instrument.Therefore, it is to be understood that the illustrations of thechin-rests shown in the drawing are merely representative and that otherforms readily may be employed.

It has been described above that the device may be cut out as shown inFig. 7, to afford clearance for the collar bone. This cut out may takevarious other forms, the essential feature being that it is so shaped asto prevent pressure on the collar-bone.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a violin, a chin-rest, at the front thereof, andmeans to secure said chin-rest to said violin, comprising spaced clampseach including oppositely threaded elements and a turnbuckle connectingsaid threaded elements, of a cushioning device at the back of saidviolin; spring legs carried by said cushioning device; and

oppositely disposed U-shaped shoes secured to said legs and adapted toengage said turnbuckles thereby to secure said cushioning device to saidviolin with said shoes out of contact with the violin.

2. The combination with a violin, a chin-rest, and means to secure thechin-rest to the violin including spaced clamping elements, of acushioning device comprising a base member; a relatively soft padsecured thereto at the lower side thereof; spring legs secured to saidbase member and having upstanding portions located between said clampingelements; and oppositely disposed U-shaped shoes carried by saidupstanding portions and adapted, under the influence of said springlegs, to engage said clamping elements thereby to secure said cushioningdevice to said violin.

3. A cushioning device for a violin comprising a base member having asubstantially U-shaped channel therein; a padding element secured tosaid base member; a spring element located partly within said channeland provided with upwardly projecting portions; and U-shaped shoescarried by said portions adapted to grip the turnbuckles of a violinchin-rest clamping rods.

4. A cushioning device for a violin, adapted to be secured to adjacentspaced clamping elements of a violin chin-rest; comprising a basemember; a padding element secured thereto; a substantially U-shapedself-expanding spring element carried by said base and provided with apair of leg portions; and a substantially U-shaped gripping shoe,carried by each of said leg-portions and located between said clampingelements each shoe to engage one of said spaced clamping elementsthereby to secure said cushioning device to said chin-rest.

5. A cushioning device for a violin comprising a base member, formed inits periphery with a cut-out portion affording clearance for thecollar-bone of the player; a pad secured to said base member andconforming to the shape thereof a substantially U-shaped spring membersecured to said basemember and having outwardly extending leg portions;and gripping means carried by said leg portions resiliently to engagethe securing means of a chin-rest attached to the violin.

6. A cushion device adapted to be attached to 'a conventional chin-restsecured to a violin by clamps,comprising a base member having asubstantially U-shaped channel therein; a pad secured thereto; asubstantially U-shaped spring element carried by said base member andhaving projecting leg portions; and oppositely disposed gripping shoessecured to said leg portions adapted to engage intermediate'portions ofsaid clamps, said leg portions being deflected laterally intermediatetheir endsto afford clearance for projecting portions of said clampingmeans.

'7. A base member fora violin cushioning device comprising amouldedplate having, between its upper and lower walls, an open-endedcavity adaptedto receive "the closed portion of asubstantially U-shapedspring clamping means; and a pin extending through said walls andpassing through said cavity forwardly of a portion of said clampingmeans to prevent removal of said clamping means from said cavity.

STEVEN HARDY.

